‖n.; pl. -drosten /plu>. Sometimes incorrectly . [ D., fr. land land + drost a kind of official; akin to G. truchsess. ] (In South Africa) (a) A chief magistrate in rural districts. He was replaced in 1827 by “resident magistrates.” (b) The president of the Heemraad. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]